San Jose: Doctor accused of pocketing money meant for cancer research

SAN JOSE -- A former doctor at Valley Medical Center has been accused of embezzling nearly $50,000 in federal grant money that was earmarked to pay for cancer research at the hospital.

According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, Dr. Tri Minh Do spent some of more than $46,000 that was stolen on credit card bills and his parents' mortgage.

Do, 45, was charged with felony misappropriation of public funds and faces up to four years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 13.

"I would hope that every penny for cancer research is spent on the treatment and survival of patients," said prosecutor Judy Lee in a statement released Tuesday. "Mr. Do is charged with diverting thousands of dollars of these funds."

Prosecutors said the embezzlement was detected late last year, after Do had already left his job at Valley Medical Center.

Hospital staff noticed a series of unexpected reimbursement checks from the American College of Radiology, which had been sending in checks for a year.

Prosecutors said that Do was in charge of the study and had deposited thousands of dollars in reimbursement checks into his own account.